Still no leads in case of kidnapped US aid worker, driver

by Aaron Hotfelder on

There are still no clues in the case of an American aid worker kidnapped Saturday in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Cyd Mizell (seen at right), a 49-year-old English teacher at Kandahar University, had worked for an NGO, the Asian Rural Life Development Foundation. The woman’s driver, Abdul Hadi, was also taken.

This follows a string of abductions of foreigners and Afghans alike in the past few years, possibly spurred on by some governments’ policies of paying ransoms to secure their citizens’ release.

The southern region of Afghanistan has “become increasingly dangerous,” according to an ABC News story, “as the Taliban insurgency has spread throughout southern Afghanistan.”

The article continues: “Western civilians who operate there often travel with armed guards and extreme caution. The area is rife with Taliban militants and criminals linked to the country’s booming opium poppy trade.”

The Afghan authorities suspect the work is either of the Taliban or an armed criminal gang, though they still have not heard any demands from the kidnappers.

More coverage here and here.

Keeping the ‘Stans Straight, part 6: Afghanistan

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Afghanistan

Location: South Asia, east of Iran and north of Pakistan

Capital: Kabul

In a nutshell: Afghanistan’s government and its strategic location have put it at the center of one international conflict after another. Still reeling from the 1979 Soviet invasion and a subsequent civil war, Afghanistan was bombed by the U.S. and U.K in 2001 after its Taliban leadership refused to hand over Al Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden.

How you know it: You’ve been awake at least part of the last seven years.

Interesting factoid: That heroin you saw at a party once probably came from Afghanistan, the world’s largest producer of poppies.

Bonus interesting factoid: There’s most likely an Afghan laying on your couch.

Make sure to check out: The Band-i amir Lakes, called one of the world’s “least visited but most dramatic natural wonders.” Be forewarned, however, that those ninnies at the State Department strongly advise against travel to Afghanistan. Something about “military operations, landmines, banditry, armed rivalry among political and tribal groups, and the possibility of terrorist attacks, including attacks using vehicular or other improvised explosive devices (IEDs).”

More from this series: Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan.

Photo of the Day (12/27/07)

by Neil Woodburn on


This photo encapsulates everything I love about travel, especially those odd moments where you get mixed in with the locals and have to endure an entire different way of life just to get from Point A to Point B. And just look at that desolate landscape. There’s probably not a McDonald’s for at least another mile!

According to Teokaye, who snapped this wonderful shot, the truck (or carriage?) is full of “Wakhis on the way to the hi-altitude summer pastures to tend to family livestock. This road follows the border – Tajikistan is to the left, Afghanistan, to the right.”

And then Teokaye asks us, “Can you spot the American?” I think I can, can you?

Kite Runner movie opens this weekend

by Jerry Guo on

The much-anticipated movie “The Kite Runner” about an Afghan refugee and his childhood experiences in his war-torn homeland finally opened this weekend. It’s the latest in a slew of Afghanistan movies, following on the heels of “Lions for Lambs” with Tom Cruise and preceding the Christmas thriller, “Mr. Wilson’s War,” with Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts.

The only movie I’ve seen of the three is “Lions for Lambs,” and I’ll save you the $10 bucks by just saying it’s a rather terrible movie. There’s lots of political drivel and lackluster action scenes, but nothing that gets us beyond the veneer of 24/7 news broadcasts and psuedo-political commentary. That’s why I’m hoping “Kite Runner” will delight me. Though apparently most of it was shot in China …

Post if you’ve seen the movie and whether you liked it or not!

International Volunteer Day

by Jamie Rhein on

If you are a volunteer somewhere, give yourself a pat on the back. This is your day. Started as a UN resolution back in 1985, December 5 is a day to get people fired up for the other 364 days of the year. Even though the areas of economic and social development, are the target areas for applause, I say, if you’re helping anyone anywhere, bravo for you. Hmmm. Economic and social development. Those are broad terms. There’s a page on the International Volunteer Day Web site that lists the 7 Goals for the Millennium that volunteer activities are linked to. They are:

  1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
  2. Achieve universal primary education
  3. Promote gender equality & empower women
  4. Improve maternal health
  5. Reduce child mortality
  6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
  7. Ensure environmental sustainability

Kabul, Afghanistan, Kathmandu, Nepal and Beijing, China are featured as areas where such projects are happening, but there are more. If you are looking for a place to make a difference when you travel, the International Volunteer Day Web site might be a place to start. Here are volunteer stories to get you inspired.